4G speeds for phones, tablets and PC laptop cards are still a fairly new development, but Verizon is still expanding its 4G service in more and more cites. Today, the wireless carrier announced that its LTE service is now officially live in nine more cities in the US. The newly added cities are: Mobile and Montgomery Ala., Greater Fairfield and New Haven, Conn., Gainesville, Pensacola and Tallahassee, Fla., Fayetteville-Lumberton, N.C., and Bryan-College Station and Temple-Killeen, Texas. These new additions bring the total number of US metropolitan areas serviced by Verizon"s 4G network to 55 locations. In addition to the new cities, Verizon says it has expanded its already available service in five more US cities: Atlanta, Chicago, Denver, New Orleans and Philadelphia.
Even with the new city additions, its still going to be a while before all of Verizon"s current 3G users will be brought up to the 4G speeds. The press release states, "We plan to bring 4G LTE mobile broadband to our entire 3G coverage area by the end of 2013.” In addition, Verizon has announced that it is trying to bring its LTE network beyond the urban areas into rural locations. It states, "The company is working with rural communications companies to collaboratively build and operate a 4G network in those areas." Verizon has entered into agreements with at least 10 rural wireless companies to bring the LTE network technology to those areas. There"s no word yet on when those networks will go live with the 4G speeds.